Sheet-music.



WILIiAltDl C. SMITH, OF CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA SHEET-MUSIC. 6:11 v

Specification of Letters Patent. il

Application filed October 27, 1905. Serial No. 284,72 "im:

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Campbell, in the county of Santa Clara and State -of California, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Sheet-Music, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a musical staff, score or composition, being especially directed t o the arrangement of distinguishin leger lines which are added tothe usua staff both above and below the latter as occasion may require, and in connection with both the treble and bass staffs.A

The primary object of the invention is to provide a musical staff, score or composition with leger lines of a distinguishing character at regular intervals to represent, for instance, octaves with respect to tone indications to facilitate reading the latter both a ove and below the staff and obviate strain on the eyes, as well as delay on the part of the performer or pupil in reading the tone designations.

In accordance with the features of the invention, the first .two leger lines above and below the staff, treble and bass 4are distinguished by either differently coloring the same, dotting or waving them, so that they maybe immediately distinguishable to the eye and differentiated from the ordinary staff lines. The next five leger lines follow.- ing said first two leger lines, are similar to the staff lines, and after these, two distinguishable lines are again'employed as justdescribed, the pairs of distinguishing lines alternating regularly to any required height or depth. The contrast or change resultant from the use of the differentiating lines, between the leger lines and the five staff lines in extensa, preserves the vintegrity of the original staff in alternating sequences or ret currences, and every note of the staff like leger line occupies like place and name as note of corresponding position of original staff, each repetition or recurrence respectively representing an octave remove continuously.

It is the purpose of the invention to arrange the highest or lowest note of the most difficult and unfamiliar com osition in such manner that it may be quic y read, located and played, or sung with equal facility as the ordinary staff note, and also to relieve the blurred or confused condition of multiplied,

- indiscriminate leger line stant strain and monotony incident thereto.,v

'1 and 2.

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows treble and bass staffs with the distinguishing leger lines applied above and below the same and in alternation with the groupsI of staff-like leger lines. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1,

showing a slight modification in the distinguishing leger lines. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing a still further modiiication in the distinguishing leger lines.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several y views. l

In all the forms shown the numeral 1 designates the treble staff and 2 the bass staff. At regular intervals and where found necessary to dispose a musical composition on -the staffs, c listinguishing pairs of leger-lines 3, Fig. 1, are applied above and below the staffs at regular intervals and of a color different from the lines of the staffs. Alternating with respect to the distinguishing leger lines 3 are staff-like leger lines 4 which are five in number, and are similar in their representation to the lines of the staffs The distinguishing leger lines 3 and alternating groups of staff-like leger lines 4 will bevspaced individually similarly ico the spaces or intervals between the staff mes.

In the modification shown by Fig. 2 distinguishing leger lines 5 are shown in dotted form and with these dotted distinguishing lines similar groups of staff-like leger lines shownvby Fig. 1 are also em loyed. In Fig. 3 the distinguishing leger ines are waved and are also used at intervals with the staff'- like leger lines shown by number .4, and which in Figs. 2 and 3 are designated by the same numeral.

Groups of live staff-like leger lines are illustrated as arranged in alternation with the distinguishing leger lines, but it will be understood that this number of staff-like Aleger lines may be varied particularly when it is desired to indicate different intervals between notes of a like tone, such for instance Vas in thirds and siXths.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with an ordinary musical staff of five lines, of permanent leger lines located outside of the said ordinary staff lines and having distinguishing charloo acteristics, and other permanent leger lines similar to the staii lines disposed between the said leger lines, the leger lines having distinguishing characteristics being spaced to represent certain musical intervals.

2. The combination with a musical sta'fl involving five lines, of differentiating permanent leger lines arranged above and below the stati' and spaced to re resent musical intervals, the said leger ines having other permanent leger lines therebetween similar to the lines of' the staii.

8. The combination with a musical stati of iive lines, of pairs of permanent leger lines dis osed outside of the said musical staff of 've lines and having distinguishing characteristics, and other permanent leger lines arranged between the said pairs of leger lines and similar to the staff lines, the pairs of leger lines being spaced to designate musical intervals.

4. The combination with an Ordinar musical stati of iive relatively light lines, o relativelyT heavy permanent leger lilies located outside of the ordinary stati lines, the two sets of lines being indicated by the letters of the gamut, and other relatively heavy permanent leger lines disposed between the ordinary leger lines and having letters of the gamut, the leger lines bearing the letters of the gamut being spaced to represent certain musical intervals.

In testimony whereof, I al'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WlLLAR-D C. SMITH. Witnesses:

CHAs. E. Howie, M. E. EMPEY. 

